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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
It will be interesting to see how long Spurs continue on their good run. They are playing extremely attacking football under Sherwood and are yet to get caught out by a good counter attacking team but I think they might be quite similar to us in terms of beating the weaker teams.
United have been poor but they are going to be without Rooney for the next 3 weeks I think. They can't really afford to fall behind anymore. I don't think they will have the consistency against the weaker teams and I think they will drop points against the top 6 teams. If Moyes does manage to get them top 4 from this position he will be doing extremely well
Everton are very hard to judge as I think there season will come down to how durable their squad is. They are in a similar enough position as ourselves in that if 1 or 2 of their best players get injured they could struggle hugely. My main issue is that our squad is too thin, let alone top players. This usually shows in the 2nd half of the season. Both United and Spurs and even Everton I think have deeper squads. We are already playing with youngsters in our first team and our bench has players with no premier league experience. This is why I think top 4 will be difficult with the current squad.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,307
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,307 |
I agree on United and Spurs but I don't think Everton have a stronger squad than us.
If we didn't buy anyone we would have to be lucky in terms of injuries although we have had a bad run of luck in recent weeks with a good few defenders getting injured at once as well as Gerrard and Allen
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
I agree on United and Spurs but I don't think Everton have a stronger squad than us.
If we didn't buy anyone we would have to be lucky in terms of injuries although we have had a bad run of luck in recent weeks with a good few defenders getting injured at once as well as Gerrard and Allen I've been quite impressed with Everton, Baines was out but his replacement was as good or even better, Deloefeu is a squad player, but does add to the game when he comes on, they are playing with more experienced players than us. Our big difference is one player, Suarez, who has contributed to apparently 70 % of our goals, either by scoring or making defining passes. We are more a one player team than Everton who have already reinforced. In short, I am worried.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,595
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,595 |
If we don’t sign any player of quality in this window, then considering all factors I’ve opted for 6th. I’ve based this prediction on:
1. Our current squad depth, way below our competitors, will factor in as the season progresses, despite our lack of CL, Europa, etc. (injury etc)
2. current performance level of some of our players in key areas of the pitch, e.g defense, LB, RB, DM and HB. This is a worrying sign at this stage when the team should be firing on all cylinders, and it’s not. And, we've little width other than the FBs getting forward, which is risk laden when playing top competitors and us with a dodgy defense.
3. The distinct possibility of our competitors settling in to more consistent performances in this second half of this season, plus the possibility of them strengthening their squads in this window.
4. our over reliance on one or two players, and consequent risk from their injury, suspension, tiredness, etc
5. Experience. With the exception of two or at most three players we don’t have it, theres a risk that could factor in at the business end of the season.
So what am I saying? I’m saying what I’ve said all along, if we want CL, we need to sign some Quality PL ready players, and that we should have signed them in the summer instead of all those cheapie ‘prospects’, loanees and freebies.
Step up FSG the bell tolls, this is your defining hour!
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
Brendan Rodgers has claimed Liverpool would not settle for fourth place at this stage of the season because of a growing belief they can challenge for the title.
Liverpool won at Stoke City on Sunday for the first time in the Premier League and the 5-3 result, coupled with Daniel Sturridge’s return from an ankle injury, has increased Rodgers’ confidence that his team can maintain a challenge alongside Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea. Rodgers also said he believes Sturridge can emulate Luis Suarez’s world-class form.
Liverpool are six points behind Arsene Wenger’s leaders but Arsenal, City and Chelsea – along with Everton and Tottenham Hotspur – have all to visit Anfield before the season is over.
Rodgers’ target at the start of the campaign, shared by the principal owner, John W Henry, and the chairman, Tom Werner, who will attend tomorrow’s home game against Aston Villa, was to return Liverpool to the Champions League after a four-year absence. But he insists his fourth-placed team are aiming higher.
‘Lot of depth’
“Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea are based around Champions League squads,” the Liverpool manager said. “They have been in there religiously and they have got a lot of depth that they can call upon. But if we have the fortune to stay clear of injury and whatnot, I would put our team up against anyone.
“Of course, the challenge is to get to fourth. Once you can do that, it is all about seeing if you can go beyond that. But I will never give up the fight. I’ve always tried to be optimistic.
“It’s a long way to go, but you can see it’s an open Premier League so the team that can make the least amount of mistakes and continue to evolve can win out at the end. We know the direction we are going and at the moment we are going in the right way.”
Sturridge returned from a seven-week absence with a goal and an impressive assist for Suarez against Stoke. His manager believes the England international can only get better. Rodgers said: “Daniel has a wonderful opportunity over the next few years to become world class. He has every tool and every quality he needs to be as good as Luis Suarez.
‘Clear of injury’
“If he stays clear of injury and stays on the field he can achieve that. It signified how hard he’d worked while he was out that he could come straight into the game at Stoke and make such a big impact.”
The Liverpool manager reiterated his belief that January will be a quiet transfer window at Anfield and all the leading clubs in the Premier League, although he will discuss targets with Henry and Werner this weekend. “The owners have been great in terms of, if there is something to be done that will help us, they will support that,” said Rodgers.
“I just think it will be a difficult market to improve on but it certainly won’t be for a lack of trying. We are assessing a whole raft of players, it is just a question of whether they are going to be available to bring in now.”
Winning the league with this squad is more than hoping, it's dilusional, but I suppose he needs to say so to motivate his players. The top teams still having to come to Anfield is great, but the only top team we have ever beaten under BR is Spurs (not counting this year's United for obvious reasons), now if that changes then may be. I feel that we are too shaky defensively to contain any top team, the derby will give some indications. The big if is thought, Suarez staying out of injury as you could say RVP won United the league last year.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 12,416
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 12,416 |
Ok who voted 1st, come on, own up.
"Romance has broke down
This boy is crack'in up"
So not a moderator
Valar Morghulis
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
Ok who voted 1st, come on, own up. Of course it's BR, he said it himself.
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,650
1st Team Squad
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1st Team Squad
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,650 |
we need a near flawless second half to the season to get back in the title race. the fixture list is kinder so there is hope but 6 points is a bit of a gap. a new top class midfield player would help us a lot.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926
Liverpool Legend
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Liverpool Legend
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22,926 |
we need a near flawless second half to the season to get back in the title race. the fixture list is kinder so there is hope but 6 points is a bit of a gap. a new top class midfield player would help us a lot. We definitely need somebody better than Leiva. Even Adam contributed or has contributed more fir Stoke than Lucas for us IMO, was quite obvious to me in our last game.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,307
Under 23 Player
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Under 23 Player
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,307 |
to win the league would probably need something around 85 points this season. Liverpool would need 43 to get to that total and I don't know if thats realistic in 17 games for us to only drop 8 points. I think 30 points for top 4 is a lot more realistic and achievable
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